The challenges awaiting FC Barcelona after the international break

The October international break has come at a difficult time for FC Barcelona. However, the chance to put things right is just around the corner. Once club football returns, Barça's next three games are at home, against Valencia (17 October), Dynamo Kyiv (20 October) and Real Madrid (24 October).

The stage is set in Camp Nou

Two La Liga games and one Champions league game give Koeman's men the opportunity to get back into the groove. The Valencia fixture looks key as the Liga team are on the same points as Barça (12), albeit having played one game more.

The following game is the third Champions League group stage match against Dynamo Kyiv. A victory is needed, as any other result will make qualifying for the next round very difficult.

There is no let up for the third game either. Winning three points in the Clásico against Real Madrid would be a real boost to moral, even more so considering it will be the first Barça v Madrid with fans in Camp Nou since the start of the pandemic.

Away days follow

Barça will need to find their away form after the three consecutive home games though,, as three of the four games after November's international break are away from Camp Nou. The opponents will be Rayo Vallecano (w/e 26/27 October), Dynamo Kyiv (2 November) and Celta Vigo (w/e 6/7 November).

The only home game will see Barça face Alavés during the weekend of 30/31 October, before the trips to Vallecas and Kiev.